title: Rapamycin potentiates cytotoxicity by docetaxel possibly through downregulation of Survivin in lung cancer cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To elucidate whether rapamycin, the inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), can potentiate the cytotoxic effect of docetaxel in lung cancer cells and to probe the mechanism underlying such enhancement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung cancer cells were treated with docetaxel and rapamycin. The effect on the proliferation of lung cancer cells was evaluated using the MTT method, and cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Protein expression and level of phosphorylation were assayed using Western Blot method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-treatment of rapamycin and docetaxel was found to favorably enhance the cytotoxic effect of docetaxel in four lung cancer cell lines. This tumoricidal boost is associated with a reduction in the expression and phosphorylation levels of Survivin and ERK1/2, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined application of mTOR inhibitor and docetaxel led to a greater degree of cancer cell killing than that by either compound used alone. Therefore, this combination warrants further investigation in its suitability of serving as a novel therapeutic scheme for treating advanced and recurrent lung cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
authors.forename: Huiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Jiahe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077022:Survivin; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D000077022:Survivin; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D020123:Sirolimus